British managers are judged differently, claims Rodgers

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers believes British managers are just as talented as their foreign counterparts and deserve more respect for their achievements.

Rodgers took over at the Foxes in February 2019 and steered the club to a fifth-place finish in the 2019-20 campaign, missing out on a Champions League spot on the final day of the season.

His side have enjoyed a stellar start to the new season too, and sit top of the Premier League after winning six of their opening eight games.

Rodgers is widely considered to be one of the best British managers of his generation, having come close to winning the Premier League with Liverpool in 2014.

He also led Celtic to seven domestic trophies during his two-and-a-half seasons in charge of the Scottish club before he joined Leicester.

The Northern Irishman has got the better of Pep Guardiola, Marcelo Bielsa and Mikel Arteta already this season and sarcastically said "because I'm a British manager, I got lucky" following a 4-1 win over Bielsa's Leeds United on November 2.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's trip to former club Liverpool, Rodgers talked up the merits of British managers and believes they have it tougher than their continental colleagues.

#LivLei training Excited for Sunday, Foxes fans? pic.twitter.com/afBL66SMYy
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 20, 2020

"As an island we produce very good coaches," he told a media conference on Friday. "The systems in place in the last 15 years have ensured we do well in game.

"As British managers we are always judged in the most difficult league in the world.

"There was a question after the Leeds game about Bielsa, Pep and Mikel but, with all due respect, Mikel has been a manager less than one year.

"We've got a load of great coaches. You just want respect for your work."

Rodgers goes up against the man who replaced him as Reds boss following his dismissal in October 2015 this weekend, with Jurgen Klopp's side just a point behind Leicester at the Premier League summit.

Klopp guided the Merseyside outfit to their first top-flight title in 30 years last season and Rodgers is impressed with everything the German has achieved at Anfield.

"I know first-hand the job he's done," he added. "The expectation was huge and it's not all plain sailing.

"He had great support from the board to get the right profile of players. But the whole package of what he's done is a brilliant job. He has a great connection with the supporters and the players."